Two Japanese newspapers got in trouble with the International Olympic Committee for publishing photos taken during a rehearsal of the opening ceremonies of the 1998 Winter Games.
The newspapers, Sankei Shimbun and Sankei Sports, were barred from attending the Feb. 7 opening ceremonies and had three staffers taken off the credentialed media list for the rest of the Olympics.
Without a media credential, journalists have no access to Olympic venues, including the center where a press conference announcing the decision was held on Thursday.
The Sankei newspapers were apparently among media outlets allowed to attend a recent rehearsal with the understanding that nothing would be published until the opening ceremonies aired.
IOC officials said news organizations in future Olympic cities, including Salt Lake City, will be warned not to make the same mistake as the Japanese newspapers did.
Surprising spectators during the opening ceremonies is "a great tradition of the Olympics," Kevin Gosper, an IOC member from Australia who oversees press issues, said. "(It's) part of the Olympic magic."
He said he plans to discuss the issue with organizers of the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Australia, as well as the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.